Wire-stretcher



' w. B. S'TEPHENS.

WIRE STRETCHER.

' APPLICATION rlLED OCT. 27,1919- I v '1 ,353 083. 1 PatentedSept. 14, 1920."

2 SHEETS-SHEET .l.

w INVENTOR W. B. STEPHENS.

WIRE STRETCHER. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27. I9).

1 $53,083, I PatentedSept. 14, 1920.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

All; 44

I MLB Stephens ATTORNEY.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLiAM 'B. srErnENs, or SUNSET, TEXAS.

. wmE-srnnrcnnn'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, (VILLIAM B. STEPHENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sunset, in the county of Montague and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in \Vire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

T his invention relates to wire stretchers and has for an object the provision of a'de vice which may be removably secured to the ends of a broken strand of wire for the purpose of pulling them together in order that they may be repaired. Y

Another object is the provision of a device of this character which may also be used for taking up the slackin unbroken wire strands, or for stretching wires in the erection of wire fences.

A further object is the provision of a wire stretcher which requires a minimum amount of labor in its operation and in which the force employed is exerted in the direction of the line of the wire.

Other objects and advantages of the inven tion will appear asthe following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the use of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the rotatably mounted sleeve.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of one of the wire gripping members.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the same, illustrating the manner in which the wire gripping members engage the wire strands.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a pair of longitudinally disposed plates 10, which are connected by means of transverse plates 11. The transverse plates are located'intermediate the ends of the longitudinally disposed plates and the latter have their ends connected by bolts 12, upon which are secured nuts 13. The transverse plates 11 are secured between the plates 10 by providing the former with extensions 14, which enter sockets, or openings 15, in the said plates 10, the said extensions being hold the teeth 22 in Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 14,1920.

Application filed october 27,1919. Serial No. 333,433.

clamped in the openings by means of the bolts 12, previously mentioned. This provides a knockdown frame for the device, which may be conveniently packed for shipment or storage.

Mounted in bearings 16, in each of the transverse plates 11, is a shaft-17.. This shaft has secured thereon a drum 18, the latter carrying at opposite ends ratchet teeth 19 and 20.- Mounted for rotation upon -the shaft 17, is a sleeve 21, one end of whichis formed with ratchet teeth 22, which are adaptedto engage the teeth 20 of the drum 18. The opposite end of the sleeve 21 is squared for the reception of the socketed end of an operating lever or handle 28;

Surrounding the end of the shaft 17, and bearing upon the end of the sleeve 21- and the inner face of one of the plates 11, isa coiled spring 24, the said spring acting to yielding engagement with the teeth 20 of the sleeve and drum, respectively.

Pivotally mounted upon one of the plates 11, is a dog 25, the said dog being held in yielding engagement with the ratchet teeth 19 of the drum 18, by means of a spring 26.

Secured to the drum 18 intermediate its ends, is a "chain 27 the said chain passing through the drum and shaft and being held in position by means of a pin 28, which passes through the drum and shaft at right angles to the chain and through one of the links of the chain. Secured to each end of the chain, is a tapered bar 29, the inner or reduced end of this bar being provided with a head 30, to which'the chain is attached. Slidably mounted upon each of the bars 29, is a split ring 31, and clamped to the bars, is one end of a wire strand 32, to which the device is secured. The bars 29 are formed with longitudinally extending grooves 33, which are adapted to form a seat for the wire strand.

In the use of the invention, the ends of the wire strand are secured to the bars 29 and the handle 23 rotated. This serves, through the medium of the ratchet teeth 20 and 22, to rotate the drum 18, the latter being held against retrograde movement by means of the dog 25. Tension upon the wire may be relieved by slightly pressing the spring to disengage the teeth 20 and 22, and releasing the dog 25 from engagement with the teeth19. While the invention is shown strands, the device may be also connected to an unbroken strand of Wire by passing the latter through the openings in the rings 31 and clamping the Wire upon the bars 29, as previously explained.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having describedthe invention, what is claimed is v p l. A wire stretcher comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally disposed plates, transverse plates connecting the longitudinal plates, a shaft having bearings in the transverse plates, a cable secured to the shaft and adapted to be wound thereon, a ratchet mechanism engageable with the shaft, an operating lever engaging said ratchet mechanism to rotate the shaft and a coiled spring surrounding the shaft and bearing against the ratchet mechanism to hold the latter in engagement with the shaft.

2. A wire stretcher comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally disposed plates,transverse plates connecting the longitudinal plates, ashaft having bearings in the transverse plates, a drum secured to the said shaft, ratchetteeth located at each end of the drum, a sleeve loosely mounted upon said shaft, ratchet teeth located at one end of the sleeve for engagement with the teeth upon the adjacent end of the drum, an operating handle on said sleeve, a coiled spring surrounding the shaft and bearing against the sleeve and one of the transverse plates and a pawl engageable with the ratchet teeth at the opposite end of the drum to hold tlle' latter against retrograde,

movement. 7

A, Wire stretcher comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally disposed plates, transverse plates connecting the longitudinal plates, a shaft having hearings in the trans-- verse platespa cable secured to theshaft and adapted to be wound thereon, a ratchet ratchet controlled drum rotatably mounted therein, a cable secured to the drum and means for removably securing a wire to the cable.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM B. STEPHENS. 

